Tendulkar can fulfill India's No. 1 dream, says Warne

New Delhi: Australia's legendary spinner Shane Warne is very much impressed by Indian team's performance under captain Dhoni, but believes India could realise their number one dream only if Sachin Tendulkar keeps himself fit.

However, Warne is not ready to accept that current Indian team is the best-ever Indian team though they had beat Australia and England.

"I think the best Indian team that I played against was my first one way back in 1991. But this current team is a bit tougher... And I think they can challenge for the number one title in the world, only if Sachin remains fit," he said in reply to an e-mailed questionnaire.

Asked what set Tendulkar apart from all other cricketers of his era, Warne said he had perfect judgement of a bowler.

"Sachin is just a class above everybody else because of the way he judges the line length of a bowler and the way he conducts himself on the pitch," he pointed out.

Warne, however, avoided commenting on how long the Indian batting maestro should go on to play cricket.

The former leg-spin wizard defended Australia's loss to India in the sub-continent, saying Ricky Ponting's men were not on decline but other team's were catching up with them.

"I think Australia is going through a change in period and India is always hard to beat in India... I thought it was a wonderful series and India just outplayed Australia and were a better team, there is no disgrace in that.